The working group on counter terror offers with a couple of key realms of coverage. These embody “six Sub-Groups on (a) Intelligence Sharing (b) Legal and Law Enforcement (c) Countering Radicalization and Terrorism (d) Anti- Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (e) Human Trafficking and (f) Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals,” stated a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs.

“The assembly mentioned conventional and rising non-traditional safety threats within the BIMSTEC area. The members deliberated and made suggestions on huge ranging points to reinforce cooperation and collaboration in countering terrorism and transnational crimes within the area,” the MEA statement went on to add.

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional grouping of 7 member states which first began meeting in 1997. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand launched the grouping by signing the Bangkok Declaration.

According to BIMSTEC, cooperation “initially focused on six sectors in 1997 (trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, and fisheries) and expanded in 2008 to incorporate agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact, and climate change.”

During the Working Group assembly on Counter Terror and Transnational Crime, India was represented by Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma and Joint Secretary for Counterterrorism Mahaveer Singhvi. Singhvi chaired the assembly.

Secretary Verma “emphasised the necessity for collective efforts in countering the menace of terrorism and transnational crimes by way of enhanced cooperation within the fields of capability constructing, data change, extradition and authorized help,” according to the MEA’s press release detailing the outcomes of the event.